Positive News, Stories, & Rockford Buzz Polls

For 21 years, the Rising Star Classic has given local basketball fans a chance to say goodbye to the kids who made the Midwestern winters bearable.The Classic annually pits NIC-10 boys and girls all-stars versus the best from schools in surrounding conferences, such as the Big Northern, Upstate Illini and Big 12.This year, it'll be the last high school game featuring East stars Chris Burnell and Sha'Den Clanton, who led the East E-Rabs to the IHSA Class 4A semifinals. On the girls side, it's the last high school action for Jordan King, who set the all-time NIC-10 scoring record and led Hononegah to the semifinals as well.This year, there's an added attraction. Organizers are including middle school all-star games as well. These will pit Rockford's best eighth graders against the best from Machesney Park, Roscoe, Rockton, Byron, Freeport and Belvidere.The Rising Stars Classic is being held on Rock Valley College on March 30. The girls middle school all-star game begins at 4 p.m., followed by the boys at 5 p.m.The girls all-star game featuring NIC-10 stars versus the area is set to tip-off at 6 p.m. and the boys game wraps things up at 8 p.m.

Words have the power to heal and they have the power to hurt. Some people don’t realize how important the words are we speak. Our words can speak light into someone’s life or darkness into their soul. Our words can literally mean life or death to someone who is struggling. In the Bible it states that death and life are in the power of the tongue. All it takes is saying the wrong thing at the wrong time to push a person over the edge they may be standing on.  It happens every day. And we have no idea what is going on in someone else’s life at any point in time. Gentle words brings peace and life; a devious tongue crushes the spirit. If we allow words of encouragement to leave our lips it heals the one who receives it, but if we speak deceitful or hurtful words they break the spirit of the one who receives it. Do we really want to break the spirit of others? Do we want to break the spirit of a grieving parent? Do we want to break the spirit of an individual with a physical disability or mental handicap? Do we want to break the spirit of someone already living on the streets? Our words can lift a person up or bring them down to the ground in an instance. What would happen if the only words we spoke were encouraging words of life, hope, and truth? What if the only words we spoke were the words of love, empathy, and compassion? Some people speak words just to hear themselves speak, but their words lack meaning and intent. When we choose to speak love to inspire others we can make an incredible difference in the world and in the life of that individual. Words of life is an act of compassion and love. When we look into the eyes of the broken, the lost, and lonely hearted and speak life and love into them, it will make a change in not only their life, but our own. Carly Rice is a perfect example of this illustration. Miss Carly’s is a place of refuge for many individuals who are broken and lost. Carly opens her home and shares a meal with them to build their trust and fuel them with words of compassion and love until they learn to trust her and open up about their needs and struggles. Miss Carly’s is known for helping those who exist in the margins and provides light to those who are lost to find their way back from the dark. Carly has a way with words but she has also mastered the art of listening to others to find their true desires and needs. Gary Chapman in his book, Love as a Way of Life uses the brilliant metaphor for words as being either ‘bullets or seeds’. If we use our words as bullets with a feeling of superiority and condemnation, we are not going to be able to restore a relationship to love. If we use our words as seeds with a feeling of supportiveness and sincere good will, we can rebuild a relationship in positive and life-affirming ways. That building of relationships is what Miss Carly has mastered. Carly also knows the value of planting seeds and understands that it might take weeks, month, or even years for someone to be ready for true change, but she will always be there planting seeds to encourage them to another way of life. We all know there are so many broken people in the world. Every day people around us are struggling in their marriage, in their finances, in their jobs, in their illness or addiction, so many aspects of their lives. Why don’t we make a choice to show LOVE, EMPATHY, and COMPASSION to those around us not only in what we do but what we say? What do I mean by this? I mean slow down…don’t cut someone off, don’t scream or say choice words because the person in front of you is going too slow. I mean be patient…when the person in line in front of you is writing a check instead of using cash or credit like the rest of the world. I mean give recognition…. take time to express your gratitude and appreciation for those you work with instead of taking them for granted. I mean be understanding….to others who don’t think or live like you do or have a different way of doing things. Just because someone is different doesn’t mean they have to be treated differently. I have witnessed many times where people feel they have a right to criticize, shame, and blame others like it’s their responsibility or duty. No one has the right to do that. I think many of us blame and shame ourselves enough that we don’t need others doing it for us.  Let’s learn to love others for who they are and where they are at in their life just like Miss Carly does. Judge Less and Love More. Most importantly, use words that build up and bring light instead of those that bring darkness and pain. 

What a difference 14 months makes. In January 2018, the City opened the Mayor’s Office of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Prevention. Since then, the office has made substantial progress confronting the scourge of domestic violence and human trafficking (DV/HT) in our community. Among the accomplishments: Examined the data behind DV/HT and its impact on the community and are developing a working Task Force to address the gaps. Held interviews and listening sessions with more than 260 DV/HT survivors and partner organizations throughout the community.Created a Juvenile Enhanced Response Team (JVERT), a multi-disciplinary team that meets regularly to help respond to juveniles in crisis, particularly those at risk for human trafficking victimization or becoming violent offenders due to experiencing domestic violence.Trained nearly 200 area educators and administrators in identifying and responding to domestic violence and human trafficking. That event yielded a working group to identify next steps and support needed to provide educators with resources and training to implement meaningful tools in our schools.Partnering with the 17th Judicial Circuit Domestic Violence Coordinated Courts, trained first responders on how to identify and respond to survivors exhibiting signs of human trafficking and domestic violence. This training includes teaching signs of strangulation in DV survivors, an indicator of future lethality. Started work to create a local Family Justice Center, a one-stop locations for survivors to seek the services, support and programs they need. The next steps are aggressive and build on the foundation already constructed: Host a two-day strategic planning session on May 29-30 to begin developing a vision for our FJC. Work with RPS 205 to create a survivor-informed teen dating violence policy.Enhance relationships with local and federal law enforcement partners to support our efforts to disrupt human trafficking in our region. 

We are helping collect rice for kids in HaitiWatch this short video to find out how you can help, too!

Looking for something to do in Rockford during this first weekend of spring? You've come to the right place! Here's your Weekend Roundup!Friday, March 22, 2019Secret Serenade @ Gene's Place - view event6:00 - 10:00 pmGrant Maloy Smith - Billboard Top 10 Americana Artist @ Rockford Listening Room - view event7:00 pm - 9:00 pmParanormal Evidence Revealed @ Veterans Memorial Hall - view event7:00 pm - 9:00 pmThe Boom Boom Room @ Louie's Tap House - view event9:00 pm - 1:00 amBlue Healers with Long-Shot @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amSaturday, March 23, 2019Species Spotlight: Bat Monitoring @ Severson Dells - view event9:00 am - 10:00 amRockford MeltFest 2019 @ Prairie Street Brewing Co. - view event10:00 am - 3:00 pmWe'll Leave The Light On: extended viewing of 'Its Gonna Be Lit' @ 317 Art Collective - view event10:00 am - 5:00 pmFamily Fort Building Night at the Library @ Hart Interim Library - view event5:00 pm - 7:00 pmUsual Suspects Read: CLUE @ Nordlof Center - view event6:00 pm - 10:00 pmRockford IceHogs vs Milwaukee Admirals @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event6:00 pmParanormal Tour with Ghost Head Soup @ Tinker Swiss Cottage - view event7:00 pm - 10:00 pmRockford Laugh A Thon @ Coronado PAC - view event7:30 pm - 10:00 pmYour Local Radar, Galaxy, and Honcho @ Mary's Place - view event9:00 pm - 1:00 amSunday, March 24, 2019Sunday Drum Workshop Rockford @ Womanspace - view event1:00 pm - 4:00 pmTRIPPY sip n' paint @ 317 Art Collective - view event1:00 pm - 3:00 pmBlackberry Smoke @ Coronado PAC - view event7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

March 11th was National “Eat Your Noodles” Day. Although this day has come and gone, I am giving you another excuse to go out and celebrate. To be honest, do we really need an excuse to eat noodles anyway?  Octane Interlounge - 124 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61101 “Sesame Miso Pulled Pork Ramen” - fried pulled pork (Eickman’s), soy marinated egg (Tenmen Farms), pickled red cabbage, scallions, Eickman’s bacon, roasted onions & Octane sesame miso ramen broth *Every Wednesday, Octane has a ramen night with two different ramen dishes to choose from. YOU MUST GO! Baker Street Burgers - 1603 N Alpine Rd, Rockford, IL 61107 “Bacon & Goat Cheese Mac” - bacon, goat cheese & caramelized onion *Don’t let the restaurant’s name fool you. They make AH-MAZING mac & cheese!Rock-Pho’d - 1603 N Alpine Rd, Rockford, IL 61107 “Pad Thai” - served with your choice of meat, thai rice noodles stir-fried with tofu, eggs, bean sprouts, green onions & ground peanuts in a savory brown soy sauce *Their name may be a pun, but their food is no joke. This is one of my favorite pad thai dishes in Rockford! Alchemy - 610 N Bell School Rd, Rockford, IL 61107 “Alla Sarda” - italian sausage, fresh peas, aged parmesan, creamy tomato sauce & campanelle *National “Eat Your Noodles” Day wouldn’t be complete without some Italian pasta. The sauce in this dish is unreal!

Sorry, St. Pat, red was better than green on your day. Sunday night’s contest had big playoff implications for the IceHogs. The team is still fighting for their playoff lives and sat one spot out coming into the game against the Texas Stars. You could say the IceHogs needed a bit of that Irish luck. To make the game even more important, the Texas Stars are the team that sat immediately ahead of the Hogs in the standings. Anton Forsberg took to guarding the net. He put up a 46 save performance on Friday night in Grand Rapids and stole the show. He looked to recreate that magic at home. Local boy Josh McArdle got the night off on Sunday as 6’4 newcomer D-Man, Dmitry Osipov, stepped into his first game for the Hogs. McArdle has been an awesome addition on the blue line for the IceHogs this season. His story is even sweeter because he’s a native of Roscoe. Once the puck was down on this Sunday night contest, we settled in and hoped that fatigue didn’t become too apparent on the third game in three nights. Jordan Schroeder got a puck toward the net that fooled a lot of us up in the stands but unfortunately went off the post. Would have been a nice, early goal to settle down my nerves. But, alas... The game continued 0-0. After a fortunate bounce off the referee to our skater, Graham Knott had a great shooting chance but the goalie came up with a better save. That didn’t stop the determined Hogs. Spencer Watson corralled the rebound and took the puck for a wraparound adventure. Desrosiers made an incredible stop slamming the puck against the post with his skate blade, but Alex Fortin swooped in with his (imaginary) super hero cape and poked it in for the first goal of the game! Things were going great until a cross-crease goal similar to the one the Monsters scored on Delia on Saturday tied the game on a defensive breakdown by Jokiharju and Gilbert.Don’t count these pigs out, a dogged effort by Martinsen to drive to the net after not getting enough on an open net tip regained the lead for the Hogs. The Hogs were determined to not have a blemish on their weekend record. END OF 1: Shots 12-5 Hogs. 2-1 Hogs. Anton freakin’ Forsberg came up with some MASSIVE stops nearly 5 minutes into the second period on the penalty kill. He seemed to be down and out but battled for every shot. The goaltending performance put on by #31 this past weekend was remarkable. I don’t know what kind of water he was drinking, but I want some of that!7:10 into the second, Hogs got their first powerplay. They fail to convert on first one. With 8 seconds left, Texas got another penalty. 5 on 3 . . .The IceHogs failed to convert on all three power plays. Texas got a breakaway coming out of the box. It was incredibly similar to how Victor Edjsell scored on Saturday. Anton Forsberg made the save, albeit - controversial save. The refs called no goal, but he seemed to slide into the net himself with the puck. Either way, I’ll take it. They ended the period still in the lead. END OF 2: Shots 19-17 Texas. 2-1 HogsFor a game that wasn’t tied, it was pretty crazy that there were only about four plays of note in the third period. Anton Forsberg came up with a huge set of saves with 6:10 remaining to keep the Hogs up by one. Delay of Game penalty on Jokiharju with just under 4:30 to go. Hogs killed it off.Joni Tuulola had a massive stick tie-up with 2:42 to spoil a Texas breakawayWith 10 seconds to go, there was a mad scramble around Forsberg’s net off the faceoff. No harm done . . . HOGS WIN HOGS WIN! HOGS WIN!The game ended 2-1 IceHogs. Shots 35-25 Texas. Let’s just reflect a bit. The IceHogs went into Grand Rapids and Forsberg stole the win and 2 points. They came home for a Saturday night battle and Collin Delia led the team to an overtime win against the Cleveland Monster. They got to entertain their home crowd again on Sunday night and Forsberg led them to their 3rd win in 3 nights which put your Rockford IceHogs right back into a playoff spot!This weekend was MASSIVE for the Hogs and their playoff hopes and they did everything right. I am still hyped up from the work they put in this weekend. It was great hockey. They got three great wins. Even more exciting, they are back home on Wednesday night! Grab your tickets and let’s keep this thing rolling!

The second game of a 3-in-3 came to Rockford on Saturday night, bringing with it tired players and an excited crowd. The BMO was rocking which is always great to see. The Cleveland Monsters were in town. I don't know if I'll ever forgive them for sweeping us in the playoffs a few seasons ago. There are just some things you can't let go of. Saturday night's contest was also the return (again) of Collin Delia after he was sent back to us coming off a crazy 3rd period relief performance in Toronto. Crawford was suffering from the flu and Collin took the net facing 30 shots in the process but securing the win.The Hogs got off to a good start. They didn’t look like they had played Friday night. They were skating well and getting some shots off, but they took the first penalty of the game. It always sucks the air out of the building when your team is the first to kill a penalty, especially when the game is scoreless. Just don't give up that first goal. The IceHogs came away with a perfect kill, thankfully. As soon as the two minutes were up, Pelletier hit Victor Edjsell with a perfect feed. He out waited the goaltender and tucked it behind him on the breakaway. It was a beautiful goal and the BMO went wild! Breakaway goals are some of my favorites. I'm also one of the minority that enjoys shootouts. Seeing what kind of creativity a shooter comes up with is really fun. Or, you have the flip side where you get to see your goalie's skills on display. Let's just pretend they always turn out well for the IceHogs. I like that idea. Cleveland tied the game with 2:26 to go in the first period off a wraparound goal that just squeaked by Collin Delia. They went into the first period tied 1-1. Shots were 13-10 Cleveland after first period. At one point, a Monster landed on Collin’s left leg in a weird way and he was in some pain. We’ll just have to hope it was a stinger and nothing more serious. Heading into the second period, we needed a strong performance to make the third period easier on the team. With a minute and a half gone, Blake Hillman rifled one over the goalie’s glove. I almost didn’t believe it went in. It just seemed too easy. There was nothing really happening, and then there was a puck hitting the back of the net. I saw it happen. I knew it was in. But it took me a second to actually celebrate. It was a strange time. But, it was Hillman’s first goal of the season! That should be exciting for the rookie blue-liner. I was excited for him, once my brain caught up to what was happening.The game became a bit scrappy and the teams both had guys in timeout. AKA - a 4 on 4 situation. The Monsters decided that one guy in timeout wasn't enough which led to an extended 4 on 3 of the IceHogs. PERFECT! This is a great chance to go ahead by two. When there are only 3 defenders on the ice, just get them moving, open up some lanes, and put that puck in the net! Or, that's how it works in theory. The Hogs did none of that. Cleveland came down and scored a short-handed goal as the first two penalties expired. It was a perfect passing play, and Delia had almost no chance on it. Those almost make me more frustrated that soft goals. Although, ask me again after a soft goal goes in and I will change my mind. Being a hockey fan is a fickle thing, okay?!The IceHogs got a power play with under 8 minutes left in the second. This would have been a great chance to get the go ahead goal and some peace of mind headed into the third period. Instead, they cashed in a power play that was nothing to write home about. The Monsters got the best chance while short handed. Moving on . . .Collin Delia came up with some huge saves with under 3 minutes to keep the game tied. His leg must have been feeling okay. After he looked in pain during the media timeout, he bounced back strong. I only hope it’s not a lingering thing that bugs him for the rest of the season. Shots were 22-20 Cleveland after the second. Somehow. I don’t know where all of our phantom shots came from. We had 10 but it felt more like 2. But, this is why I write about what I see and don’t keep the official shot clock. With the game tied, you’d expect the third period to be full of action . . . No, not really. Collin made some great saves on the PK to kick off the period, but that was about it. Both teams were getting shots off, and as the clock ran down it started getting a bit stressful. We needed two points badly for the playoff race, so each shot by Cleveland was a little heart-stopping. But the IceHogs held down the fort and took this thing to overtime . . . awesome. Overtime can be your best friend or your worst enemy depending on the circumstances that got you there. In this game, I was fine with it. I felt confident that the boys would pull out a win. Sometimes you just get a feeling. Shots were 33-31 Cleveland after 3. Going into OT tied 2-2.There was some great back and forth action in overtime. There were a few more heart-stopping chances by Cleveland, but COLLIN DELIA, LADIES AND GENTS!!!! He came up with a MASSIVE save to keep the game alive which led to . . .ICEHOGS WIN ICEHOGS WIN ICEHOGS WIN!!!! 3-2 1:15 INTO OVERTIME! Peter Holland with the snipe and the fans get to go home happy! Oh, I bet the players are just a little thrilled as well. What a game. What a team. Strap in and get ready because the third game in three nights is TONIGHT! Puck drops at 4:00 pm at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Grab your tickets and let’s cheer them on to another win!I can’t end this piece without telling you about one of the coolest things that has happened to me. Cat Silverman of The Athletic and InGoal Magazine reached out to me and my dear friend Jacalyn for our opinions on what it’s like to be a fan of an AHL team. I felt so honored, and the piece came out awesome. You can check that out here (there’s even a photo of yours truly): https://theathletic.com/868746/2019/03/14/inside-the-life-of-an-ahl-fan-the-double-edged-sword-of-cheering-for-the-farm/

Happy St. Patrick's Day Weekend everyone! If you're Irish, enjoy your weekend and drink responsibly! To everyone else . . . have fun and drink responsibly.A staple of this holiday is Corned Beef. We heard about one of the most anticipated dishes in town, so I took one for the team and checked it out. My job is so hard, I know. If you like corned beef, you have tonight and tomorrow to stop into Lucha Cantina and grab yourself these Corned Beef Tacos before they're gone! After a long Friday, I decided it was time to treat myself to some dinner. Full disclosure: I am not really a corned beef person. When we sat down with Josh for our video show, he was telling us about how these tacos are one of their most talked about dishes throughout the year even though they’re only available for about 6 days out of 365. I like Lucha. I like eating. So, I gave them a shot. I went with the corn tortillas because those are ALWAYS a solid choice. From the photos, the tacos looked delicious. I had no idea I was in for a flavor party in my mouth, though. The beef was so tender and flavorful. The sauce was delicious. Yet, none of it was super overpowering. Every flavor blended really well together to make for a full experience.They may have just turned this non-corned beef eater into a believer. Of these tacos, at least! Plus, you get a side of their signature rice and beans. If Lucha isn't already on your radar this weekend, make sure you change that immediately. You need to try these.

It’s always really exciting for me when I get to meet people who were born and raised in Rockford and decide to stay here and start their careers. Yojaira is one of those people. She was born and raised in Rockford, graduated as a Jefferson JHawk in the class of 2007, then went to Rock Valley and Tricocci University for beauty, barbering, and education. She started out in the education field teaching at a Charter School becoming the Spanish teacher. It was an act of fate when her contract got terminated. She signed up for beauty school and has been cutting hair for about 3 years now. She stepped it up a year ago and became a licensed barber. Yojaira started her work as a barber at Off the Top last March. She has transitioned to Thexperience Salon and Spa and absolutely loves it. If you’re looking to get a fresh cut, make sure you give her a call to make an appointment! When Yojaira isn’t making people look gorgeous, she enjoys going out with friends, playing music, and drawing. She can play an assortment of instruments including guitar, drums, and bass. She used her talents to lead worship at Lao Evangelical for 6 years. When she’s at home, she gets to hang out with her 4 awesome dogs. Yojaira’a favorite thing about Rockford is watching it grow. You can see such a difference in the city and in the attitude of everyone here from just ten years ago. There has especially been awesome growth in the art world. There are more art shows, more break dancing, and the music scene has taken off. It’s great to see the people of Rockford creating and using those creative skills to bring the community together. Fun Facts: Favorite -Movie: Likes musicals – Chicago, Rent, BurnBook: The Hunger GamesMusic: Old salsa music, oldies, the temptationsLocal Restaurant: Olivos tacos – The taco truck with the 3 for 5 deal. In her opinion, they have the best tacos in town!  When I asked if there were any other fun facts she wanted to share, she said the only thing she could think of was being left-handed. If my memory serves me, she’s the first person I’ve interviewed who has said that. I would say that is very cool! To follow along with Yojaira and check out her barber skills, you can find her on instagram: @yo_loveisinthehair

Feeling a bit green this weekend? It's the only weekend of the year where that means something positive! We know you're here for some St. Patrick's Day Festivities. But, if you need to give your body a break, there are some other great things sprinkled throughout as well. Here's your Weekend Roundup!Friday, March 15, 2019St Patrick's Weekend 2019 @ The Olympic Tavern - view event11:00 amThe Return of James Lee Stanley @ JustGoods - view event7:00 pm - 10:30 pmSt. Patrick’s Party @ Rural on Tap - view event7:00 pmSPEAKEASY: Mob Hits Night @ Franchescos - view event7:30 pm - 11:30 pmPink Beam @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amSaturday, March 16, 2019Textile Tessellation with Sarah Reed-McNamara @ Rockford Art Museum - view event9:00 am - 10:30 amSt. Paddy’s Eve Party! @ Mulligans Pub & Grill - view event11:00 am - 2:00 pmShamrock Beer Run - 5K Fun Run @ Rockford Speedway - view event1:00 pm - 6:00 pmThe Rock City Sneaker Show @ Loft Ten 19 - view event2:00 pm - 6:00 pmRockford PaddyFest & St. Patrick's Day Parade @ Prairie Street Brewing Co - view event3:00 pm - 8:00 pmRockford IceHogs vs Cleveland Monsters @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event6:00 pmBar Crawl @ Bygone Brand - view event9:00 pm - 2:00 amMiles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amDrink and Be Irish @ Cj's Public House - view event11:00 pm - 2:00 amSunday, March 17, 2019St. Paddy's Day Brunch @ Granite City - view event9:00 am Smash Tournament @ Top Cut Comics - view event1:00 pm - 7:00 pmRockford Promise Night - Rockford IceHogs vs Texas Stars @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Today, it is not that hard to find stories of strange lights in the sky or even of people experiencing with what they believe to be aircraft from another world. One can find documentaries or television shows about these sightings at almost any hour of the day.It isn’t even hard to find these stories closer to home. The local newspaper has covered them for decades. If you have a Rockford Public Library card, you can even find them right at home by logging on the website and looking under Research It. Yes, that was a plug for the library. www.rockfordpubliclibrary.orgSome of the more documented sightings seem to have multiple witnesses. For instance, several people saw strange lights in the sky during the first half of the year in 2001. These cases got a lot of news coverage, not only locally but even internationally. They were even listed on the National UFO Reporting Center and discussed as far away as London. Dozens of people spotted bright, orange circles flying in vicinity of Newburg and Mulford Roads. Jack Dickerson was quoted in a newspaper article from February 13, 2001. Jack stated that he was driving toward home around 9:30 in the evening when he joined others who had pulled over to the curb of East State Street. They all noticed seven orange lights that started in a T shape but changed to form a cluster. The witnesses all stared upwards as the lights continued to hover over the area for at least 15 minutes. Everyone described the same incident including the fact that these lights had no sound as they hovered and then moved away. Air Traffic Controllers at the Greater Rockford Airport were interviewed about any sightings on this particular night. They reported that nothing unusual was spotted.Another case from November 1957 was compelling for two reasons. First, the sightings were spread over several counties in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin and included multiple witnesses. Second, many of the reports came from police authorities across several jurisdictions. In McHenry County, a deputy sheriff reported seeing four or five objects in the sky. He stated that these objects had lights that changed color. At the same time as this report was sent to headquarters, two other sightings were called in from miles away. These reports claimed that they also saw a cigar shaped object with lights that flew slowly over their vehicles causing their engines to suddenly stop. These stories were so widespread that two Air Force planes were sent to explore them. One took off from Truax Field near Madison and the other from O’Hare Field near Chicago. The reports from the pilots came back with nothing unusual spotted.Three squad cars in Rockford reported similar sightings during the same evening. They described it as a “fiery red cigar shaped thing.” The policemen reported that they followed “the mysterious spaceship” to the little town of Winnebago before returning to Rockford. While today’s sightings are often explained away as weather balloons, experimental aircraft, and even satellites, as one travels back into Rockford’s history for more of these claims the usual explanations fall away. The timing of these next two stories make them most intriguing.Further back, research leads back to August 27, 1916. Hundreds of people in Rockford witnessed lights in the sky in the northwest part of Rockford. These lights were so bright that many thought that a large part of the city must be on fire. These lights were observed over several hours during the evening. Local telegraph offices reported problems with their equipment during the same time as these sightings. No scientific explanation was ever found.The earliest report found by this author dates back to April of 1897, long before airplanes were making their way across the sky. On Saturday, April 10, 1897, two brothers, Elisha (labeled as Captain Thayer) and his brother Frank Thayer were arriving home at 1140 N. Church Street in Rockford. They had been out to dinner and were returning around 8:30 in the evening. They were standing on their porch as Elisha finished his cigar. Elisha was just about to toss the cigar away and enter the house when he noticed strange lights moving in the sky. The lights were moving in a southwesterly direction. The sight of the lights startled Elisha so much that he called his brother back outside. The men watched as the lights moved quickly over the city. There were four lights on the object: two green and two white. This sighting was also witnessed by many other Rockfordians before they moved out of the area. Reports came from several other cities in Illinois over the next few weeks and matched the description turned in by the Thayer brothers.  The series of reports during this time first appeared in Kansas and spread their way across the Midwest including Iowa and Nebraska before appearing in the skies over Illinois. They were deemed the “Kansas Airship” by the reporters and called “an eerie nocturnal visitor.”   These sightings went on all over the area for several months before fading away. As one can imagine, discussion and searching for an explanation for the “queer pilgrim of the night” as the paper called it, went on for much longer. One local scientist suggested that it was a star that had reached a closer point to the earth in its orbit. Though some Rockford citizens were satisfied with that answer, Captain Elisha Thayer, who considered himself an amateur astronomer, stated that what he had witnessed was definitely not a star.~Kathi Kresol March 2019

This weekend at Lucha Cantina, our fan-favorite Corned Beef is BACK! If Lucha Cantina isn't at the top of your mind for a St. Patty's Day celebration, it will be when you take a look at these dishes. We'll be serving up Corned Beef starting on Thursday night, March 14, and going all weekend!Drop in and try these out. See you at the Cantina!

In keeping with our mission of Arts for Everyone, Rockford Area Arts Council’s biannual ArtScene has something to offer, well, everyone!ArtScene brings out thousands of art-lovers to galleries, studios, restaurants, shops, and other sundry venues all over town to admire (and buy!) local art of all sorts. From textiles to sculptures, photography to metalwork, painting to drawing and everything in between, ArtScene exhibitors have something for every pallet.The beauty of ArtScene is that no two people attend the same event. That is to say that ArtScene is an experience that can be uniquely tailored to your particular interests and style. Some people like to hit as many venues as possible to glimpse a little of everything, while others like to slow down and take a deeper dive at a select few. Some people choose to enjoy a more concentrated and geographically-bounded gallery tour by focusing on Midtown or downtown galleries— an approach that will be simplified this year through a special downtown ArtScene Rockford Mass Transit Route! Meanwhile, others simply seek out the artists or type of art they enjoy the most and make their own route of favorites to follow, even if that takes them off the beaten path or to the farther-reaches of the map.   With over 40 participating locations this spring, Rockford Area Arts Council’s Spring ArtScene will feature a rich variety of venues and artists that are sure to offer a gratifying experience for anyone’s approach. And on top of all of that, ArtScene is no cost for people to attend to ensure that it is an opportunity that everyone in our community can enjoy, however they choose to do so.Spring ArtScene is coming up next month on Friday, April 12 from 5-9 and Saturday, April 13 from 4-9. The full event map will be available as it gets a little closer at http://springartscene.com/So however you ArtScene, please enjoy, and thank you for supporting local art and artists! 

March is National Women's History Month, and since half of the Rockford Buzz team is a woman, we decided to have a chat about how women have been treated throughout history and the current business climate, at least in Rockford.If you didn't hear, you can now listen to the podcast on your Podcast App of choice!Just copy this URL:https://podcast.rss.com/rockfordbuzz/feed.xmlPaste that URL into your app of choice and voila! Apple Podcasts – Tap “Library” on the bottom menu. Click Edit. Click “Add Podcast by URL”. Enter Podcast URL. Hit Subscribe.Castbox – Enter the Podcast URL into the search bar. Hit Search. Tap SubscribePodbean – Tap the search icon. Click +Add Feed URL >. Enter Podcast URL. Make sure it says you’re following.

Friday afternoon I walked into Embroid This! to pick up the t-shirts I had ordered for Rockford Buzz. Ace, the founder and owner, was there and as we chatted he told me about an online store he had opened to help raise support for the family of Deputy Keltner after last week's tragic events. I thought it was such a cool idea and unique way to raise support and awareness that I HAD to share it.This isn't the first time Ace and his team have done fundraising for a cause. They do a lot with local organizations, School PTO's, and helped raise money last year to support devastation that occurred in western Montana."Usually we receive a request from an individual wanting to help out a friend or a cause. This time we just did it on our own, simply from the desire to do "Something" rather than nothing."They had just launched the site that morning. Ace and his team don't have any direct connection to Deputy Keltner. However, they do have a staff member that is married to a Rockford police officer and so have a brethren to public servicemen and women.The site is called BLUE LINE. and features shirts and apparel honoring those who serve.https://stores.inksoft.com/blue_line/shop/home 100% of the proceeds from BLUE LINE in the month of March will be donated to Mrs. Keltner and her family. The site will remain up after March, but won't be tied to Deputy Keltner at that time."The site will be up always we will however remove Dep. Keltners, apparel at the end of the month. We will be writing a check to Mrs. Keltner at that time for all the proceeds collected this month."What happened last week is truly tragic. But the support this community, both from individuals and businesses like Embroid This!, has given in the face of it is inspiring and shows just how big a heart this community has for the people within it.https://stores.inksoft.com/blue_line/shop/home

This weekend is gonna be lit! Well, it will at 317 Art Collective. Or so I'm told. There's also some great music coming through town and so so so much more! Here's your Weekend Roundup!Friday, March 8, 2019Disney Junior Dance Party On Tour! @ Coronado PAC - view event6:00 pmTrinadora's US Roots @ Gene's Place - view event6:00 pm - 9:00 pmTriflemore - Transatlantic Folk Duo @ Rockford Listening Room - view event7:00 pm - 9:00 pmTellTime, The Addisons, and What About This. @ Mary's Place - view event9:00 pm - 2:00 amSaturday, March 9, 2019Friends of RPL Book Sale @ Hart Interim Library - view event9:00 am - 4:00 pmAg All Around Us @ Discovery Center Museum - view event11:00 am - 2:00 pmMovie: Food For Change-The Story of Cooperation in America @ Katie's Cup - view event12:15 pm - 2:30 pmSpiritual Encounters Group @ Womanspace - view event2:00 pm - 4:00 pmArt Opening - Rockford East High Student Art! @ JustGoods - view event2:00 pm - 4:00 pmIt's Gonna Be Lit @ 317 Art Collective - view event7:00 pm - 11:00 pmFlatfoot 56 In-Store Acoustic Set (Because It's Tradition!) @ Culture Shock - view event7:00 pm - 8:00 pmRockford Symphony Orchestra- Behind The Mask @ Coronado PAC - view event7:30 pm - 10:00 pmFlatfoot 56 @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amSunday, March 10, 2019Smash Tournament @ Top Cut Comics - view event1:00 pm - 7:00 pmNAMI Mental Health support group @ SwedishAmerican Heart Hospital - view event2:00 pm - 3:30 pmTas Cru @ Mary's Place - view event7:00 pm - 11:00 pm

The City of Rockford is now taking applications for commissioners for the Community Relations Commission. The commission, whose focus is on community engagement, will help the City better achieve its goals of involving the community, improving communication, and fostering positive relations. The Commission will consist of 11 members, which will reflect the City’s diversity and will act as an advisory board to the mayor and council. Functions of the commission will include:  · Providing opportunity for our City departments to communicate the work they do, so that commissioners can be ambassadors for the City · Giving commissioners opportunity to provide feedback to the council, Mayor and staff on issues impacting the community· Providing a forum for thoughtful debate on issues impacting the community, including civil rights, diversity and fair housing· Reviewing and recommending adoption of ordinances· Helping hold the City and our contractors accountable by periodically receiving reports from staff regarding compliance with our EEO and diversity hiring policies· Assisting staff with informal mediation and conciliation to resolve claims of discrimination· Recommending educational programs, trainings, and best practices to counsel and the community in furtherance of the goal of community engagement, diversity and equity· Holding trainings on engaging minority and women owned businesses· Helping navigate difficult issues by fostering input and discussion For the initial appointments, terms will be: · Four commissioners will serve a 1-year term· Four commissioners will serve a 2-year term· Three commissioners will serve a 3-year term· Commissioners after the initial appointment will be appointed to 3-year terms. To apply, applicants need to submit a current resume and a one-page statement of interest and qualifications by March 31: · In person or mail: Mayor’s Office, City of Rockford, 425 East State, Rockford, IL 61104· E-mail: communityrelations@rockfordil.gov Applications will be reviewed by the Mayor’s Office. Final recommendations of commission members will be submitted by the Mayor to City Council for approval. Questions? Please e-mail communityrelations@rockfordil.gov or call the Mayor’s Office at 779-348-7150. 

One in four people in the world will be affected by a mental or neurological disorder at some point in their lives. Around 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide. Treatments are available, but 56% of American adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment. As I previously wrote, stigma, silence, and neglect prevent care and treatment from reaching people with mental disorders and often leads to suicide.There has been a stigma in law enforcement community because there is a lack of ability to understand and recognize the signs and symptoms of the different illnesses or education of such. On the flip side, when a law enforcement officer themselves are dealing with a mental disorder they are made to feel as though they cannot speak about if for fear of losing their career. The current focus on law enforcement’s response to mental health and substance abuse-related issues and increasing demand for more training seem to often lead to more questions than answers. There is a question as to whether more training is needed to address the growing problem. The issue is further problematic because, historically, law enforcement and behavioral health have functioned independently. Recent events make it clear that community behavioral health needs to play a critical role in public safety.While mental health professionals and law enforcement in some circumstances work together, we need to more effective and consistent with those efforts. Two of the most widely discussed mental health/crisis training programs geared toward law enforcement are Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) for Public Safety and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs. Both programs have strengths and are frequently offered to law-enforcement agencies as solutions. At the same time, both are often misunderstood. Both are needed.Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety is an eight-hour codified training curriculum, specifically modified to address the law enforcement population and provide a general awareness of mental health issues. The course teaches a 5-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources, and knowledge to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, and self-help care. Participants learn the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and, most importantly, teaches individuals how to help someone in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge.  This evidence-based best practice, run by the National Council for Behavioral Health, provides an overview of psychiatric disorders, suicide, and intervention strategies. In addition, MHFA for Public Safety helps the officers with defusing crises, promoting mental health literacy, combating the stigma of mental illness, enable early intervention through recognition of signs and symptoms, and connecting people, as well as fellow officers, to care.Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs, includes a 40-hour Advanced Officer Training component, which delves deeply into topics and brings the face of consumers directly into the classroom. CIT is a large-scale community collaborative program and law enforcement training is just one component. Partnership with the community’s public health system is central to CIT. Fostering functional partnerships improves safety in the community and provides an opportunity for diversion into treatment for distressed individuals, leading to long-term solutions and recovery. Without these relationships, there are missed opportunities due to a lack of meaningful engagement between partners. Understanding that CIT programs are the foundation for developing meaningful collaborations with community behavioral health services, and not merely training for police is key to bridging this gap.The National Council has long believed that Mental Health First Aid is not a replacement for CIT. Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety should be incorporated into an existing CIT program as an enhancement and not a replacement.The CIT program is proven most effective when experienced officers attend voluntarily. Training 20-25% of a department’s uniformed patrol officers in CIT normally constitutes adequate coverage. Ideally, in addition to specialized CIT response, all uniformed officers possess some basic level of mental health awareness training. It is not necessary nor possible due to budgetary constraints to require that all officers attend the intensive, full week long training; Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety provides adequate exposure to mental health awareness in an eight hour course. Providing department-wide Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety training during in-service, academy, or other times, is an effective complement to a CIT program. In addition to demonstrating a commitment to ensuring that an entire department has a minimum standard of mental health understanding, Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety can serve as a catalyst for officers to attend CIT training in the future, while it improves the overall commitment to quality care for those experiencing mental health disorders.Chief Jamie Evans of Village of Roscoe understands the importance of Mental Health First Aid so much that she went through the training herself to become a certified instructor for the course just as I did. Together we now co-instruct Mental Health First Aid together to the general public as well as public safety officers. The Roscoe Police Department strives to have all officers trained in Mental Health First Aid and re-certifies every three years. Jamie shares that Mental Health First Aid not only has helped their department with assisting the public, but with having a deeper empathy for individuals experiencing mental health crisis’s and their families with better understanding. Jamie believes with the call volumes increasing for mental health and suicide, public safety officers not being trained in Mental Health First Aid is a disservice to us all. It’s individuals like Chief Jamie Evans who saw a need and stepped up to become part of the solution that help make a powerful impact. Her willingness to train her officers has lead to improved outcomes for individuals living with mental illness in our community. We have to continue to work to bridge the gap between those living with mental illness and public safety to improve the outcomes in our community. Resources used for this article: National Council for Behavioral Health website

That’s right! For just $10 a person, you and your friends can get a tour of our amazing brewery! Come hang out with the brewers, try some fresh beers, and walk away with a sweet souvenir glass!Current tour dates: Wednesday, March 27th @ 6:30pm Saturday, March 30th @ 1:00pm and 4:00pm Sunday, March 31st @ 1:00pmStay tuned for more info! Tickets will be available via website soon!!!

Sip and sprint (or walk) your way to granting Wishes for young adult cancer warriors. On Saturday, March 16, 2019, join Nik’s Wish for the 5k Shamrock Beer Run/Walk. The course, at Rockford Speedway (9572 Forest Hills Road, Loves Park, IL), boasts five beer pitstops. At each pitstop, sample a three-ounce brew courtesy of one of our local craft beer sponsors: Generations, Granite City, Lena, Pig Minds, & Prairie Street. All registered participants will receive a souvenir beer glass, a Shamrock Beer Run long-sleeve T-shirt, and a medal for completing the course. The race is not timed, but a race-clock is posted so you can check your time. Festivities begin at noon and the Run/Walk starts at 1:00 p.m. A post-race party will be held indoors, where all five breweries will be set up to serve participants and all who purchase beer tickets. On race day, the cost to register for the Shamrock Beer Run/Walk will be $50 (must be 21 or older); however, a significant discount is available for those registering in advance, and for those registering as designated- drivers (no beer). The spectator fee is $10. Register online at http://www.nikolasritschelfoundation.org/events/. Beer tickets can be purchased during registration, before the race, and during the party. Nik’s Wish, The Nikolas Ritschel Foundation is a small, all-volunteer 501(c)(3) charity based in Rockford, Illinois. At age 17, Nikolas Ritschel was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma. Nik and his family went on a Make- A-Wish respite vacation. During his many grueling cancer treatments, Nik met Nate, who was also suffering from a Sarcoma cancer. Unfortunately, Nate was diagnosed after turning 18, which made him ineligible for Make-A-Wish type programs. In March of 2012, before he passed, Nik’s last wish was for a respite vacation for his friend Nate. Shortly thereafter the foundation was born when Nate’s “Nik Wish” of a vacation to California was fulfilled. Since then, the foundation has granted over 130 Nik Wishes to young adults (18-24), and their loved ones, fighting cancer. To learn more, visit www.nikolasritschelfoundation.org. 

We teamed up with Cocao Cuvee to make amazing chocolates with our Imperial Turkish Coffee Stout, Angry Turk! $5 gets you a 5oz glass of Angry Turk, one Dark Chocolate infused with Angry Turk topped with dark roasted coffee beans and a hint of chili pepper, and one milk chocolate with Angry Turk caramel and topped with sea salt. (chocolate only option also available for $2)

There’s some exciting news buzzing around the Rockford IceHogs this week. What’s a big deal, you ask? COLLIN DELIA IS BACK IN ROCKFORD!With Corey Crawford returning from a concussion in Chicago, Delia was sent back down to the IceHogs. Delia took to guarding his crease Tuesday night as they took on their biggest rivals in Chicago. It was sort of a rough game as Maxime Lagace stood on his head in the Chicago net and the Wolves ended up winning with a score of 1-0. If your goalie only gives up 1 goal per game, you’re going to win a great majority of contests. Unfortunately, Legace did one better and didn’t let a single puck by him. Fortunately, Collin got a chance to return to the net Friday night at home. He got a very enthusiastic welcome from the home crowd when he was announced as the starting goaltender. After being held off of the score sheet in their previous game, we were just hoping that the Hogs could pot a few goals and get another solid performance from their goalie. The Grand Rapids Griffins were in town and they’re near the top of the division. It was an important game, and the crowd was ready for it. In the first period, the IceHogs came out like they had something to prove. They were connecting passes, getting pucks to the net, and laying some hits. This determined effort led to them scoring the first goal of the contest on the power play. Schroeder took a feed from Jokiharju and Johnson and whipped it past the goalie. They stayed hot, and Spencer Watson scored his first goal as an IceHog by tipping a rocket of a shot from Lucas Carlsson. Watson is the new kid in town after being acquired shortly before the trade deadline in a deal with the Los Angeles Kings that sent Matheson Iacopelli the opposite way. Neither player could really find their footing on their previous teams. Hopefully a change of scenery will benefit both guys. With 1.6 seconds left in the first . . . ANOTHER ICEHOGS GOAL! This time, Dennis Gilbert snuck down from the blue line and tossed the puck by Harri Sateri after Luke Johnson got shoved into him by a Griffins defender. Shots after the first were 15-7 Hogs. The scoreboard was looking good as it read 3-0 Hogs. When the second period started, they looked like they were going to carry over their play from the first period. They had some great chances right in tight, but Sateri wasn’t allowing anything else by him. The goaltender’s solid effort to start the period injected some life into his team’s veins. 3 minutes go by . . . Griffins rifle one past Delia. IceHogs turnover . . . Griffins get a second goal. Thankfully, the penalty kill came up big after the second goal to keep the IceHogs ahead. But, with a failed power play of their own and a failed breakaway chance, it looked like the Hogs were doing everything in their power to not score a goal in the second period. I’m sure they WERE trying. But, from section 203, it was so frustrating to watch. Mercifully, the period ended. Shots were 26-19 Hogs after 2. The third period certainly can’t go worse than the second, right?One minute into the third period, Grand Rapids ties the game off of a hard slap shot on the power play. Well, ****. SCHROEDER! Just over 6 minutes left in the third period and Jordan Schroeder rips home the go ahead goal. This is great. The IceHogs need these points while playing against divisional rivals. The playoff race is on and they cannot afford to give up points. They battled back hard after a rough second period and won in regu. . . . . . Griffins tie the game with 2:11 in the third period. Cool. Awesome.This is fine. Everything is fine. To overtime we go. I swear this team is taking years off of my life, but I love them. Overtime was a wild ride. It seemed like the IceHogs had better possession time, but the Griffins had their chances as well. Delia had to come up with a huge poke check on a streaking Griffin in order to keep the game alive. With time winding down and a shootout looking guaranteed, Peter Holland cleans up a scoring chance and SENDS THE ICEHOGS TO A VICTORY WITH 35 SECONDS TO GO!ICEHOGS WIN! ICEHOGS WIN! ICEHOGS WIN!Now, that’s a pretty big deal(ia). 

How is it March already? It feels like the first two months of the year flew by at light speed. We are really starting out this month on a high note. There are SO many things going on this weekend. Check this out. Here's your Weekend Roundup!Friday, March 1, 2019Silent Art Auction @ Womanspace - view event5:30 pm - 7:00 pmWine Tasting Fundraiser @ Artale Wine Co. - view event5:30 pm - 8:00 pmRaw Perspectives Closing Party @ 317 Art Collective - view event6:00 pm - 10:00 pmPainting and Pie Night - The B52's @ Kate's Pie Shop - view event6:30 pm - 9:30 pmNot Without A Fight: Fight Night @ Rockford Art Museum - view event6:30 pm - 9:30 pmRockford IceHogs vs Grand Rapids Griffins @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event7:00 pm - 10:00 pmElephant's Graveyard @ Nordlof Center - view event7:30 pm - 10:00 pmGood Morning Bedlam and Quilt Club @ Culture Shock Records - view event8:00 pm - 9:00 pmThe Attitudes @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amSaturday, March 2, 2019PaleoFest @ Burpee Museum - view event9:00 am - 9:30 pmSpecies Spotlight: Calling Frogs and Toads @ Severson Dells - view event9:00 am - 10:30 amSock Monkey Madness Festival @ Midway Village Museum - view event10:00 am - 4:00 pm2019 Rockford Out of the Darkness - Committee Meeting @ Mary's Market - view event10:00 am - 11:30 amTrinadora Duo's US Roots Mélange @ Pig Minds Brewing - view event7:00 pm - 10:00 pmSoul Fingers @ The Norwegian - view event7:00 pm - 9:00 pmBLUE STEEL at Shooter's North @ Shooter's North - view event9:00 pm - 1:00 amBlink 182 Tribute: Blank 281 @ District Bar Rockford - view event9:00 pm - 12:00 amTattoo You @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amSunday, March 3, 2019PaleoFest @ Burpee Museum - view event9:00 am - 4:30 pmAle Yeah Yoga @ Prairie Street Brewing Co. - view event3:30 pm - 5:00 pmPool Class: Intro to Kayaking @ Boylan High School Aquatic Center - view event3:30 pm - 6:30 pm